Polearms of the Snail Lords

There is a combination arms race / fashion war between the various crater states of the salt flats as to whom has the best pole arms and which is appropriate to which situation. Some feel that voulges achieve peak wave at two waves, others three, some even more (although all agree that the gaudy nine-wave voulge-fork of Herzog’s Spire is over the top, unwieldy and most importantly terribly unhip). Set 1 – from left to right:

The Particular Axe

Seven Headed Bastard

Unstable Bill

Spitting Fork with Evening Star

Two Wave Voulge Hook

Spiny Bearded Voulge

Reinforced Hooked Fork (aka the Escargot Fork Mk II)

Three Wave Spiked Voulge

Razor Trident of the Frond Oases

Pole Arm designers in the various Crater States of the salt flats (primarily snail lords, although a few toad women are also involved in the industry) are a mix of military genius and fashion agent, and armchair guisarme enthusiasts are quick to point out how bad the designs of specific houses are…

Set 2 – from left to right:

Violet Axe-Awl, Capped

Sporting Axe, Short

Three Pronged Bardiche, Double Collared

Nine Wave Voulge-Fork, Tacky

Asymmetric Bill Fork

Spined Salt Chopper

Reticulated Arched-Back Battle Axe

Few snail lords actually get involved in the hard work of crafting armament, instead they are involved in the fashion industry of designing the pieces to be crafted by the base creatures of the Crater States.

Polearms serve a strong social function. Carrying a state-of-the-art polearm of a fashionable style in your region says that you are a young noble with an eye on the latest technologies, when other gastropods might instead be carrying their great-uncle’s skirmishing fauchard.

“Seriously, a skirmishing fauchard? We’re dealing with the hostile memories of ancient wars here and you brought a skirmishing fauchard? Why don’t you just advertise that your parents were peasants right on your shell?”

Set 3 – from left to right:

Casey’s Spiral Fauchard

Snail-Spike Hammer with Bastards

Goblin Partisan

Salt-Hook Fauchard

Awkward Hook

Goblin-Crotch Ranseur

Light Skirmishing Fauchard

Whistling Sovnya Fauchard

All of these will appear sooner or later properly scanned in “Snail Lords of the Salt Flats”. And the best part? Here’s the stats for all 24 polearms presented here: Polearm, 7gp, 1d10 damage

This post struck a cord with me because I’ve always been disappointed with players who just go straight for the Great Axe or Broad Sword. Polearms can be exciting weapons too and have a lot of versatility in role play. Drawings are awesome.